alone perhaps see the case as it really is. Will you
confide in me? you may do it safely. To be plain, who and what are you?"

THE COMEDIAN (evasively).--"What do you take me for, Mr. Mayor? What can
I be other than an itinerant showman, who has had resort to a harmless
stratagem in order to obtain an audience, and create a surprise that
might cover the naked audacity of the 'begging hat'!"

MR. HARTOPP (gravely).--"When a man of your ability and education is
reduced to such stratagems, he must have committed some great faults.
Pray Heaven it be no worse than faults!"

THE COMEDIAN (bitterly).--"That is always the way with the prosperous.
Is a man unfortunate? They say, 'Why don't he help himself?' Does he try
to help himself? They say, 'With so much ability, why does not he help
himself better?' Ability and education! Snares and springes, Mr. Mayor!
Ability and education! the two worst mantraps that a poor fellow can put
his foot into! Aha! Did not you say if you had set up to be clever, you
would not be where you now are:' A wise saying; I admire you for it.
Well, well, I and my dog have amused your townsfolk; they have amply
repaid us. We are public servants; according as we act in public--hiss
us or applaud. Are we to submit to an inquisition into our private
character? Are you to ask how many mutton bones has that dog stolen?
how many cats has he worried? or how many shirts has the showman in his
wallet? how many debts has he left behind him? what is his rent-roll
on earth, and his account with Heaven? Go and put those questions to
ministers, philosophers, generals, poets. When they have acknowledged
your right to put them, come to me and the other dog."

MR. HARTOPP (rising and drawing on his gloves).--"I beg your pardon! I
have done, sir. And yet I conceived an interest in you. It is because I
have no talents myself that I admire those who have. I felt a mournful
anxiety, too, for your poor little girl,--so young, so engaging. And
is it necessary that you should bring up that child in a course of life
certainly equivocal, and to females dangerous?"

The Comedian lifted his eyes suddenly, and stared hard at the face of
his visitor, and in that face there was so much of benevolent humanity,
so much sweetness contending with authoritative rebuke, that the
vagabond's hardihood gave way! He struck his breast, and groaned aloud.

MR. HARTOPP (pressing on the advantage he had gained).--"And have you no
alarm for he